School Programs

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=22 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03d000d2egerdp.gif"> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=160 BGCOLOR="#333399" TEXT="#080000" background="03ca0c00erkjzj.gif"> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://wisdomtales.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://wisdomtales.com"><U><B>Back to Elisa's Wisdom Tales home page.</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="05898770.jpg" border=0 width="152" height="119" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> <B> </B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=458 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Character Education and Bullying Prevention Through Story </I></div> <div> <IMG SRC="03e07040.gif" border=0 width="263" height="4" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Featured Stories"><U>Featured Stories</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Programs for your school"><U>Programs for your school</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U>Links</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bibliography"><U>Bibliography</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Teacher Training"><U>Teacher Training</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Resources"><U>Resources</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bully Prevention"><U>Bully Prevention</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U>Contact Us</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <I>Once Upon a Caring Classroom: </I></div> <div> <I>Storytelling for Character Education and Bullying Prevention in the K-8 Classroom </I></div> <bR> <div> <I>with Award-Winning Storyteller & Author Elisa Pearmain</I></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Welcome!</div> <div> On this site you will find stories and follow-up ideas for classroom and home use, which I update several times a year. You will also find resource ideas, and links to other Character Ed and storytelling sites. For information about how to book me into your school, or other venue, for a performance, or workshop, please go to "Programs for your School." </div> <div> The information on this site is geared mostly for children (k-8), and for classroom use. For stories and follow-up geared for teens and adults, for personal, spiritual and healing purposes please link to my "wisdomtales" site, by clicking on the blue area on the left side of this screen, where it says, "Back to Elisa's Wisdom Tales Home Page,"<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> or visit www.wisdomtales.com </div> <div> Enjoy the site, and please share your thoughts with me.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> What are the qualities of a person of strong character, a good citizen, leader or friend? </div> <div> Here's my list: A person of character is:</div> <div> <U>Respectful of self and others</U> </div> <div> <U>Responsible</U> for their actions </div> <div> <U>Courageous</U> and willing to </div> <div> <U>Sacrifice</U> for the greater good </div> <div> <U>Thoughtful</U> </div> <div> <U>Wise in the Choices</U> they make </div> <div> <U>Slow to anger</U>, and aware of their emotions and how they respond or react as a result of them </div> <div> <U>Open-minded</U> and <U>Nonjudgmental</U> </div> <div> <U>Honest</U> </div> <div> <U>Fair</U> </div> <div> <U>Empathetic</U> and <U>Compassionate</U> </div> <div> <U>Kind</U> </div> <div> <U>Helpful</U> </div> <div> <U>Generous</U> </div> <div> <U>Loyal</U> </div> <div> <U>Forgiving</U> </div> <div> <U>Cooperative</U> </div> <div> <U>Creative in Conflict Resolution</U> </div> <div> <U>Persistent </U></div> <div> <U>Diligent</U> </div> <div> <U>Tolerant,</U> and <U>Appreciative of Difference</U> in others. </div> <div> A person of character <U>cultivates good habits</U> that allow them to always act for the highest good. </div> <div> A person of character <U>cultivates self-awareness of their emotions</U> and thoughts so that they do not react but rather act consciously. </div> <div> A person of character has<U> integrity.</U> All of their actions are in keeping with their value system.</div> <div> What would you add to this list?</div> <bR> <div> How do we develop strong character and the qualities of a good citizen? </div> <div> Most of us learn by example. Children learn to place value on these qualities at home, observing their parents, listening to the stories they tell of how they handle conflict, and learned from their mistakes, from the choices they make, and the way they treat themselves, and those around them. Children learn these qualities at school, and in after-school activities, from their teachers, coaches, and peers. Children learn these qualities through stories; those told orally, in literature, through movies, television and computer games. Children learn these qualities by observing the world around them, and acting in the world. </div> <bR> <div> How can stories and storytelling help?</div> <div> Storytelling is the oldest educational and therapeutical tool on earth. People have been telling stories to impart values and information, and to make sense of life as long as we have had language. Stories are effective in imparting information because they engage our imaginations, our hearts and our minds simultaneously. There is something in a storytelling experience for every type of learner. Stories give us vicarious experience. This is as close to actual experience as you can get! Because story engages us on so many levels, and because of its logical flow, we easily retain it in memory for use as needed. The natural form of story, that of narrative, makes sense to human beings. It has all the stuff we care about; people, problems, solutions. A story is really just a bunch of information organized in the form of; a situation with characters we can relate to, settings we can envision, problems we want to know the answer to, and resolutions that give us hope. Stories are food for thought. They help us to discern what is right from wrong, and who we wish to model ourselves after. </div> <div> Folk tales from around the world were created long ago to address the challenges of being human. Most of those challenges are still with us. The folk tale gives us simple scenarios and solutions that anyone from any culture of the world can relate to. This realization in itself helps to build an essential quality of character, that of tolerance and appreciation of difference and commonality. We share far more in common on this human journey than we have differences. Every culture has folk tales, every child can find stories from their culture of origin. This is important too. </div> <div> Storytelling was effective in the past before written documents or other forms of media. The storyteller would tell a story to the group and everyone would then share that information. That story, it's problem, characters, solution, and wisdom were common knowledge. Therefore a common language sprung up by which people could identify problems and solutions by simply mentioning the story when a similar situation arose. Sharing stories in the home, classroom or even better, school-wide can have a similar effect. Catch phrases develop from stories and serve to defuse situations, and offer unspoken opportunities for solutions that are acceptable to everyone. Stories offer a common language for looking at the challenges we all face. When children read rather than hear stories told, they do not always share that sense of common knowledge. </div> <div> Another benefit of storytelling in character ed. is that of retention. Studies have shown that when students are told a story rather than read it, they retain more information from the story and are better able to retell it to someone else. They show greater comprehension of vocabulary words within the story as well. Telling stories, and then having the kids retell them again in some expressive form further cements the learning, and assures retention. Long ago before print, listeners were required to hear stories told over and over again to assure that they could be retained and passed on. </div> <bR> <div> Why do we need character education in the schools? Shouldn't this be happening at home and in religious institutions?</div> <div> Character ed. should be happening at home, and in all aspects of our community life. Children however spend up to nine hours a day at school. Today's home life is often rushed, and unfortunately many children spend upwards of three to six hours in front of the television when they are not at school. Often both parents are working and are tired at the end of the day, and lack the energy to initiate discussions and activities that promote character education. Character education is too important to not be a central part of every school's curriculum and goals. Character education teaches young people how to succeed in the world. How to be productive and responsible citizens, how to learn good habits which will promote learning, creative problem solving capabilities and eventually positive contributions to the world. Character education promotes traits that allow us to work with others, an essential but often neglected skill. Studies in the workplace have shown that positive character traits in employees are more valued than skills by employers. </div> <div> Character education is not about inculcating values into a child, nor teaching them how to think. It is about giving them the tools to be self-aware so that they can make informed choices in their lives, and be healthy, responsible citizens in the world. </div> <div> Character education need not be yet another subject foisted upon already overworked teachers and an over-full curriculum. Character education when language based dovetails with the curriculum standards, and curriculum already in place. But it does take time. It is time well spent however, as when classroom and schools take the time to cultivate character they are simultaneously creating an environment that is more conducive to learning. Classrooms become safer which allows for greater risk taking, an essential component of learning. Stress is reduced, freeing teachers and students to focus on learning. Self-esteem is boosted which also enhances a student's ability to access their learning strengths. </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>